The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
8-8
Fresno St
8-4
No. 25/25 Softball nabs first shutout in 5-0 win over Fresno State
02.22.2014 | Softball
Smith throws one-hit, complete game shutout; Stephens homers for third-straight game.
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Junior Gabby Smith tossed a complete game one-hitter and sophomore Lindsey Stephens homered for the third straight game to help No. 25/25 Texas Softball take down Fresno State, 5-0, for the team's first shutout of the season on Saturday morning at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Senior Brejae Washington was also a catalyst for the Longhorns, as she collected her second three-hit game of the season and stole a pair of bases. Texas moved back to the .500 mark at 8-8, while Fresno State took its second-straight loss to drop to 8-4.
Before Smith even faced a batter, she helped her own cause by driving in the only run support she would need going forward when she lifted a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to score senior Taylor Thom, to put UT up, 1-0.
Smith took the circle and did so with strong command from the get-go, as she retired 13 of the first 14 Fresno State batters she faced with consistent help from her defense. The only hit she let up was surrendered to Paige Gumz when she ripped a double down the left field line in the third inning. The Longhorns' right-hander struck out a season-high six hitters on the day, while walking only two batters, to improve to 4-1 on the year.
In the third inning, UT tacked on some insurance on Stephens' big blast. After Washington led off the frame with a single and stolen base, Stephens slammed a two-run home run, marking her seventh round tripper of the season. The Horns led 3-0 at that point and carried that lead into the fifth inning sophomore Holly Kern added a run on a sacrifice fly that scored sophomore Stephanie Ceo.
Texas closed out its scoring in the top half of the seventh when Stephens scored Thom on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Stephens finished the game with three RBIs, giving her 11 in this weekend's Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Fresno State pitcher Jill Compton threw a complete game for the Bull Dogs, but was charged with her third loss of the season.
The Longhorns will close out the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Sunday morning with an 11:00 a.m. CT contest against California.
POSTGAME NOTES
The 5-0 win marks Texas' first shutout of the season and is the first time the Longhorns have won when scoring five runs or fewer in a game this season.
Texas improves to 7-5 in head-to-head games against Fresno State.
Sophomore Lindsey Stephens has hit a home run in three-straight games. She now has seven on the year and eight in her career.
Senior Brejae Washington went 2-for-2 in stolen base opportunities against Fresno State. She remains perfect in 2014, as she is now 13-for-13.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Gabby (5-1)
L: COMPTON, Jill (4-3)
Batting:
2B: Thom, Taylor 1 ; Ceo, Stephanie 1
HR: Stephens, Lindsey 1
RBI: Stephens, Lindsey 3 ; Kern, Holly 1 ; Smith, Gabby 1
SF: Stephens, Lindsey 1 ; Kern, Holly 1 ; Smith, Gabby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thom, Taylor 2 ; Washington, Brejae 1 ; Stephens, Lindsey 1 ; Ceo, Stephanie 1
SB: Thom, Taylor 1 ; Washington, Brejae 2
CS: Ceo, Stephanie 1
Batting:
2B: GUMZ, Paige 1
SH: SMITH, Whitney 1
